Bats of Arizona - ASU › fm › documents › arboretum › bats_of...Arizona Game and Fish Department [email protected] For this session, I will concentrate on the bats of Arizona…Since
For this session, I will concentrate on the bats of Arizona…Since talking about 1000 + bat species would run far beyond the time we have today.
Fear …
“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays (1950), "Outline of Intellectual Rubbish"
British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)
What is a Bat?
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Bats, birds and insects can fly, but they belong to different animal classes; birds are in a class called Aves, insects belong to the class Insecta, while bats are in the class Mammalia. Bats are mammals, just like humans which means that all bats are warm blooded, have hair, bear live young, and feed their babies milk.
What Is a Bat?
A Flying Mouse?
Bats Are Mammals
• They belong to the order Chiroptera which means literally - “hand + wing”
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Chiroptera- Greek for hand + wing- Perhaps the most unique of all mammals- The only flying mammal --- and many Fly at night, using echolocation to navigate and capture prey (Microchiroperans). At the 2001 North American Symposium on Bat Research, Nancy Simmons of the American museum of Natural History –proclaimed that there were over 1000 species of bats in the world ---bats make up 21% of all mammalian species. #2 only to rodents for the greatest diversity of species.
Bat Basics: Anatomy
Arm and hand bones are elongated to support the wing
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Just the bare bones of it…folks!! I think you notice some skeletal similarities.... Bones of the wing are the same as those in the human arm and hand, but the finger bones are very long …
Bat Basics: Benefits
Bats Pollinate Flowers
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Life in America would not be the same without bats. Desert ecosystems rely on nectar-feeding bats as primary pollinators of giant cacti, including the famous organ pipe and saguaro of Arizona. They also assist in seed dispersal for these plants. Note: The turquoise colored footnotes in this presentation are quoted from Important Bat Facts – a pamphlet published by Bat Conservation International **Bat Fact --Tequila is produced from agave plants whose seed production drops to 1/3000th of normal without bat pollinators. You may want to think of the long-nosed bats as the tequila connection.
Tequila is produced from agave plants -- seed production drops to
1/3000th of normal without bat pollinators!!
Bat Fact …
Think of Long-nosed Bats as our
Tequila Connection!
Bat Basics: Benefits
Bats Help to Control Pests
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Bats also control countless insect pests. My favorite is the Pallid bat because of their food preference! The Pallid bat forages primarily on larger insects like grasshoppers, cicadas, scorpions and centipedes a bonus to ranchers and farmers.
Bat Fact…
Loss of bats increases demand for chemical pesticides, that can jeopardize whole ecosystems of other plant and animal
species!!
Bat Basics: Variety
Bats Come in Striking Colors, and Specialized Facial Shapes
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.
Bat Basics: Variety
…And Different Sizes
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On the right --The Western Mastiff bat (Eumops perotis) weighs 22 times more than Arizona’s smallest bat, the Western pipistrelle (Pipistrelle hesperus) on the left
Bat Basics: Variety
But most Arizona Bats are “LBJ’s”
LBJ = Little Brown Jobs
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LBJ’s does anyone recognize that term? It’s sometimes used for beginning birders….The little brown jobs Our 15 species of Myotis are among those most frequently seen in Arizona
Where Do Bats Live?
• Bats use different types of roosts throughout the year
• Roosts can function as maternity, hibernation, day, or night roosts
• Bats select a variety of different structures for roost sites…
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Bats commonly use several types of roosts during the course of a year, and they function as maternity, hibernation, day, and night roosts
Bats Roost in Caves
Mexican Free-tailed Bats Maternity Colony
(Tadarida brasiliensis)
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I don’t know about you...but I think this mother appears downright confused...What do you think? A Mexican free-tail mother gives birth to just one pup each year and quickly learns to recognize its voice and scent. The baby’s survival depends on her finding and nursing it several times a day. Amazingly, she remembers her own pup’s exact location and voice even though it is packed tightly among millions of others. Babies grow rapidly. Pound for pound , a mother Mexican free-tail mother produces more than five times as much milk as an average Holstein cow.
Bat Fact…
Free tailed bats from three caves near San Antonio, Texas, eat a millionpounds of insects nightly, including
many costly pests.
Entrance to Bracken Cave, Texas
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Bracken Cave, in Central Texas, is summer home of 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats. But some bats use caves as hibernation roosts.
Bats Hibernate in Caves…
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All hibernating bats are extremely vulnerable to human disturbance whether they are in a cave, mine, tunnel, culvert...especially in more temperate climates. Thousands die each winter when well-intentioned explorers may force them to awaken thus wasting fat stores needed for survival until spring. As one would expect,…The number of bat species that use protected roosts increases with increases in latitude as the number of open roosting species decreases.
Bat Fact …
• Bat droppings in caves support whole
ecosystems of unique organisms, including
bacteria useful in detoxifying wastes,
improving detergents , and producing gasohol
and antibiotics!!
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Poop poop p doop!
Bat Fact…
A colony of 150 big brown bats
can protect local farmers from
about 33 million rootworms each
summer!!
Bats Roost in Rock Crevices…
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Remote desert cliffs and outcroppings provide year-round roosts for several of Americas most spectacular bats. Let’s take a look at the species of that live in Arizona.
Bats Roost Under Bark…
Some species of Arizona bats roost under exfoliating
tree bark
Southwestern Bat
(Myotis auriculus)
We’re in here
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Americas largest bat colonies live in caves and mines. But several species of American bats roost under exfoliating tree bark, in tree cavities, and also rock crevices and cavities. Many bats are opportunists and utilize a variety of roost throughout the year.
Bats Roost in Mines…California Leaf-nosed Bat
(Macrotis californicus)
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Mines have long been recognized as important roosting sites for bats
Bat Fact…
California leaf-nosed bat can
live in hot desert climates for months at a time without
drinking!!
Bats Roost in Trees…
Western Red Bat (Lasiurus blossevilli)
nursing two pups
Bats that roost in caves and
mines are often colonial by nature…
Bats that use trees are often found roosting in small groups
or alone
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Bats that use protected roosts tend to be more gregarious than open roosting species, and they exploit a variety of structures including several man-made structures (e.g. barn lofts, building attics, culverts and bridges).
Bats Roost Under Bridges…
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Bridges, culverts and tunnels provide ideal roosting conditions during the summer to some AZ bat species, especially the Mexican Free-tailed bat. Massive concrete structures serve to moderate ambient temperatures (highs and lows). The flood control tunnel that we will visit next week is a prime example. It probably houses a minimum of 10,000 bats during the critical maternity season. The tunnel itself maintains an internal temperature of about 72-74 F, but the crevices used by the bats reach temperatures near 100 F (most maternity colonies prefer roost temps between 90-95 F).
Bats Roost In Buildings…
Big brown bats
(Eptesicus fuscus)
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Big brown bats are commonly found in manmade structures throughout North America. People who find such bats often panic, mistakenly assuming them to be dangerous. Like most mammals, a few (less than half of one percent) contract rabies. But even these rarely become aggressive (carry a paralytic form of rabies). Authorities warn that bats should never be picked up, because sick ones are the most easily caught. Remember that bats are wild animals and if handled may bite in self defense. If you have a problem with roosting bats, please contact our office or check out Bat Conservation International’s Website... (www.batcon.org) they have a wealth of information about bats and exclusion procedures on line. If your interested, you may choose to sign up to be a member or become involved in one of their conservation projects.
Living With BatsUnderstanding and Controlling Bats
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For this session, I will concentrate on the bats of Arizona…Since talking about 1100 + bat species would run far beyond the time we have today.
Bats in Buildings…
Big brown bats(Eptesicus fuscus)
Whispering Pines, AZ
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Big brown bats are commonly found in manmade structures throughout North America. People who find such bats often panic, mistakenly assuming them to be dangerous. Like most mammals, a few (less than half of one percent) contract rabies. But even these rarely become aggressive (carry a paralytic form of rabies). Authorities warn that bats should never be picked up, because sick ones are the most easily caught. Remember that bats are wild animals and if handled may bite in self defense. If you have a problem with roosting bats, please contact our office or check out Bat Conservation International’s Website... (www.batcon.org) they have a wealth of information about bats and exclusion procedures on line. If your interested, you may choose to sign up to be a member or become involved in one of their conservation projects.
Bats in Buildings…• Capturing a solitary bat
– Wearing protective gloves,– Place container over the bat, – Slide cardboard or plastic
between the container and the surface
– Release bat outside or submit for testing*
*If exposure cannot be ruled out, bat must be tested for rabies–DO NOT RELEASE!!
Bats in Buildings…
• Large colonies can cause odor and noise problems justifying exclusion.
• Most bat exclusion procedures are often simple and inexpensive to the home or business owner.
• Exclusion from entire buildings is also feasible, although professional advice may be warranted.
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Attempts to poison or exclude bats from buildings by inappropriate methods can dramatically increase human contact, as sick or homeless bats scatter to exposed positions throughout an entire neighborhood.
How Do Bats Get In?
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Bats potentially can enter holes as small as ¾” in diameter or 3/8” X 7/8”. They do not chew insulation or otherwise make new holes. Entries can be plugged with silicone, chalking, steel wool, or spray foam. Exclusion is the ONLY effective solution for permanently removing bats from buildings. Trapping and relocating is ineffective since bats have excellent homing instincts and simply return.
Potential Portals…
Eaves
Potential Portals…
Gables
Flashing
Potential Portals…
Outdoor Fixtures
Concrete Fascia
Roost Selection…• Bats that use buildings are very
opportunistic…they select roost sites that can vary daily and seasonally… – Day – Dark, protected niches for sleeping– Maternity – Energy efficient temperatures
and protection (specialized day roost)– Night – Warm, draft-free hangouts near
food and water resources– Migratory – Temporary shelter (Spring/Fall)– Hibernation – Cold, humid undisturbed
habitats
Assessing Buildings for Bat Use…
• Telltale signs:– Bat Guano
(droppings)
Assessment…
• Telltale signs:
– Bat Urine
– Old roosts may have urine crystals (amber)
Assessment….
• Telltale signs:– Dark staining
Assessment…
• Telltale signs:– Bats!!
Inside
Or
Outside
Before Sealing Begins…• Provide a Safe Exit for Bats
– Determine main access points
– Install netting, plastic, or tubes that function as one-way valves over openings
– One-way valves allow bats to leave but not reenter
– Leave valves in place for 5-7 days (bats may not exit every night)
– Avoid exclusions during the maternity season as young may become trapped inside
Exclusion Step 1
Locate Bat Portals…• Access points can be very obvious or
cryptic in nature• Observation is best method to find all
points of entry…– Observe at sunset or sunrise (exiting or
entering bats)– Station observers strategically around
suspected areas (compass points)
Exclusion Step 2
Seal Remaining Openings
Install One-way Escape Valve(s)
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Presentation Notes
Please be sure to pick up a copy of Bat Conservation International’s Guidelines for Excluding Bats or visit their website at www.batcon.org
Exclusion Step 2
One-way valve examples
www.batcone.com
www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/
Bat Cone
Bat Excluder
Do-It-Yourself
Exclusion Step 3
• Leave escape valves in place for 5-7 days
• Remove one-way valves and seal openings
Exclusion Step 4
Avoid Future Exclusions• Be proactive with maintenance• Conduct regular inspections (minimum
Fall/Spring)– Check for bat use – Assess for potential bat portals– Repair openings as needed
Exclusion Step 5
• After excluding bats consider ways to improve bat habitat or mitigate roost loss– Consider installing bat houses– Construct wildlife pond– Conserve hedge rows and wind
breaks– Preserve forest edges and old
trees
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Conventional wooden bat houses do not fare well in the Phoenix area during the summer months. However, houses may be used occasionally by migrating bats as they move between summer and winter roosts.
Bat Houses
Hwy 260 Bridge Boxes
Bat Condo University of
Florida
Pioneer Living History Museum Bat Adobe
Sand Box House (Belfry)
Wildlife Water Developments:
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Wildlife water developments are an effective and appropriate wildlife management tool in arid environments especially during periods of drought…the need for water developments will likely increase as urbanization, highways and other developments fragment wildlife habitats. Bats are frequently seen by homeowners sipping from their pools or visiting water hazards on golf courses. Schoolyard Grants�
Wildlife Water Developments:
Photo Credits:
• J. Scott Altenbach, University of New Mexico
• Arizona Game & Fish Department photographic collection
• Merlin Tuttle, Bat Conservation International
Bat Fact Credits:
Important Bat FactsPublished by Bat Conservation International
